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Rekm
“Sensei Roy is the best and he will push you out of your box for your own good....”
Best Self-Defense Classes near Santa Monica, CA
3 of these schools are based in Santa Monica; the others serve Santa Monica from towns including Los Angeles (8 mi), West Hollywood (7 mi) and North Hollywood (11 mi).
all 14 open weekends · all 14 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 16, 2026
Cjjf
“Came to train here as a blue belt from SF and was welcomed with open arms.”
Dynamix MMA
“I've learned things I need in my kickboxing that I couldn't learn anywhere else and at an affordable price for a competitor.”
Gracie Originals Jiu-Jitsu Academy
“You can tell a lot about the academy by observing the kids class, and the kids' here are so enthusiastic about what they're learning AND their coaches.”
Impact Personal Safety
“Wonderful, intelligent and thoughtfully designed safety classes for ages 10 and up.”
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
“Students range from beginners to black belts, and everyone is helpful and cool and happy to explain to you how they collected your leg, and what you should do to stop that the next time.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Santa Monica, CA are spread across the 14 cards on this page. Who each course is aimed at, where it runs and how often it repeats comes from the school itself, with ratings drawn from public reviews.
Area overview: Santa Monica, CA
The 14 schools on this page are rated from 4.6 to 5.0 across 1,015 reviews; 10 have 50 or more reviews. The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "confidence", "knowledge" and "skills". 12 are open on Saturdays and 5 on Sundays. 1 has a BBB rating of A or A+. 11 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 50 years. 2 offer a free trial or consultation and 3 list coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for all 14 of the schools on this page; 12 publish a contact page; 13 list a public email and 4 take bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
Do the schools on this page travel out to Santa Monica?
Many do. 3 of the 14 listed here sit in Santa Monica and the others are within 15 mi, which matters less in this category because the instructor usually comes to your room. Ask about travel before you rule out a school on the address alone.
Shaolin American Self Defense Academy
“They have so much patience with kids but also I still a strong sense of discipline.”
Kenshokan Martial Arts
“He knows how to work with children who struggle with behavior, those who are shy, fearful, unfocused, being bullied or have low self esteem.”
Beverly Hills Jiu-Jitsu Club
“Marcus is an encyclopedia when it comes to jiu jitsu and will help people reach their goals, whether it's to lose weight, learn a skill, or be a world champion.”
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Foxy and Fierce Women's Kickboxing Bootcamp
“Rashad and Crystal are the best, even though these classes are group classes, you still feel like you are getting a personal touch to your training.”
Inspire Martial Arts & Fitness
“They got kids changing from bad grades to straight As, folks like you and me dropping pounds and keeping them off through healthy habits and lifestyles, and even working folks making more money!”
PKG Martial Arts Academy
“If you are looking to learn top notch self defense, get in shape, and meet great people, PKG Training Center is the place to go.”
1st Class Martial Arts
“My daughters confidence has improved since attending classes there.”
Marina Martial Arts
“It's also possible to sign up for free introductory class, give it a try you'll be pleasantly surprised.”
Why these companies made our list
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